Can we not argue that even though ST came out in the 60's SW did revolutionize both movies and the way movies are produced. The general public never really got into ST it as it wasn't marketed to them. Probably one of the reasons for ST1 coming out in 80.

I love both series BTW...

Star Wars IS the reason TMP was produced. Paramount was sitting there watching the success of Star Wars and the directors meeting went something like this: "Don't we have something like that already?"

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Hair -- it may not have been THE reason, but it must have been like 98% of it. The studios were barely awake in the 70's and most of the crap that came out then reflects it. So SW needed to change the environment, but before that the studios had to recognize that public desires had changed (And I'm sure those early directors meetings were ugly...). Remember they thought Lucas was nuts to preview THX to an audience before he released it. Now look at how many movies are tweaked (even with alternate endings) due to preview feedback. Typical knee-jerk reaction to strategic business decisions -- drives me up the wall sometimes... (I'm a technical MBA, BTW)

I just want to thank everyone (with the possible exception of KAllen-bortaS) for their thoughts. I'm kind of disappointed w/ the number of votes, but I understand how that goes. I will continue to welcome ideas.

Star Trek was coming back to TV until they decided to make it into a film.Star Wars success influenced the movie decision. But the TV decision was made before the premiere of Star Wars in theaters in May 1977.

I think I would have much preferred a new TV series with Kirk then then the movies. Oh well.

Many of the first scripts were recycled for TNG.

Trek was coming back in some form, regardless of a movie called Star Wars. It HAD already come back in the Animated Series in 1973 when you really think about it.

Star Trek: Phase II (also known as Star Trek II) was planned to be the first live-action spin-off series of Star Trek: The Original Series.

In 1977, Paramount Pictures began working on the idea of launching a new television network. Following the rapid growth of Trek fandom, and a general growing interest in science fiction programming, Paramount drew up plans to launch a new Star Trek series as the network's flagship programme, covering a second five-year mission. The Enterprise was to be refit, and new characters were to be introduced. By July, construction on the sets began, and the writers' and directors' guide was published in August, with the premiere expected in spring of 1978.

The original cast returned to reprise their roles (with the notable exception of Leonard Nimoy as Spock), alongside several new characters: Xon (replacing Spock as science officer), navigator Ilia and first officer Willard "Will" Decker.

However, as preproduction finished, and work was scheduled to begin on the feature-length pilot, "In Thy Image", the network deal fell through, and, influenced by the success of Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Paramount chose to turn the pilot into a full feature, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, so as to recoup the costs already underwritten.

Several scripts already completed were later used as episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In fact, many of the series concepts from Phase II would become the basis of TNG, such as the "lost love" relationship between new first officer Decker and Ilia would lead to similar scenes in TNG Season 1.

Letters Division Member

Kirk: I take it the odds are against us and the situation is grim.
Picard: You could say that.
Kirk: You know, if Spock were here, he'd say that I was an irrational, illogical human being by taking on a mission like that. Sounds like fun!

Well it's not undeserved at my office at least; for Christmas, the IT manager bought everyone in his department toy lightsabers! And hey, if the shoe fits! They all took half the day off together for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Tuesday too, so they're well rounded.

I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your browser history when you die.